Knockdown table and container therefor



Aug. 21, 1951 J. (3. LA RUE KNOCK DOWN TABLE AND CONTAINER THEREFOR Filed Aug. 14, 1945 INVENTOR. ./0 ///Y C ZJPl/f Fatentecl Aug. 21, 1951 OFFICE KNOCKDOWN TABLE AND CONTAINER THEREFOR John G. La Rue, Bainbridge, Ohio Application August 14, 1945, Serial No. 610,708

This invention relates to the art of knockdown tables, especially picnic tables, and is an improvement upon the structures disclosed in my U. S. Letters Patent No. 2,362,567, November 14, 1944, and No. 2,411,658, November 26, 1946.

In the present form of device the frame structure is of substantially thesame form as in the other two cases above referred to; and, in a general way, the object is the same in all three cases; namely, to provide an improved form of knockdown table.

More specifically, the object. of the present invention is to provide an improved form of table top and means of operative engagement of the same upon the supporting means therefor, whereby the table top may serve also as a container for storing the entire table structure when in knocked down condition.

Another object is to provide a knockdown table with means whereby the table top will have bracing engagement with the supporting means therefor so that there will be no danger of accidental collapsing of the same.

Another object is to provide a removable seat with means for supporting especiall the outer edge portion of the same so as to reduce the danger of breaking.

Other objects will appear from the following description and claims when considered together with the accompanying drawing.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my present form of table;

Fig. 2 is a view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view, mostly in section, illustrating the auxiliary supporting means for the outer edge portion of the seat members;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the table top in closed form for use as a container for storing the rest of the structure; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view, mostly in section, illustrating the manner of engagement between the hinged flanges of the table top and the supporting means therefor.

It is to be understood that the present form of disclosure is merely for the purpose of illustration and that there might be devised various modifications thereof without departing from the spirit of my invention as herein set forth and claimed.

As in the other two cases above referred to, so here also the transverse members I may be made of metal tubing and have the inverted U-shaped members 2 of metal tubing welded thereto. The table top 3 is adapted to be supported upon the members 2, and the seat boards 2 Claims. (Cl. 31190) 4 are adapted to be supported upon the end portions of the members I.

At each end of each member I there is provided a T-connector member 5 which is screwthreaded at is upper and lower end. The lower ends of the T-members 5 are adapted to receive the legs 6 while the upper ends thereof are adapted to extend through corresponding apertures in the seat members 4 and to receive the flanged screw-threaded members 8 for holding the seat members in position.

The outer edge portions of the seat members 4 are afforded further support by means of the angle members 9 which are attached to the outer sides of the T-connector members 5. With this provision, there is greatly reduced the danger of the seat members being broken along their outer edge portions.

In the present form of device the table top 3 is ,in the form of a convertible container which can be employed for storing the parts of the knockdown supporting frame and also the seat members. This convertible top and container is made of duplicate parts, each of which has flanges 3a of suitable depth. Flanges 3a of the two parts are connected together by the hinges which are located near the two ends and at the middle thereof.

The horizontal top parts of the inverted U-shaped portions 2 are provided midway thereof with depressions In of suitable width and depth to accommodate the hinged flanges 3a When the container-top is arranged in inverted open position to serve as a top for the table. Also, the outer flanges 3a are adapted to have engagement with the upright parts of the U-shaped portions 2, thereby serving to hold the top 3 in position.

As a further means of bracing the supporting frame, I have provided the outer flanges 3a with pairs of inward projections I I for engaging opposite sides of the upright parts of the U-shaped portions 2. Such a pair of inward projections is provided for engagement with each of the diagonally opposite upright parts of the U-shaped portions 2. In this Way the two halves of the convertible container-top may be made up as duplicates, while at the same time serving the purpose desired, and this constitutesa marked advantage in manufacture. The projections ll may be of any suitable form, as for instance they may be integral flanges struck from the flanges 3a, as indicated in the present drawing. With this arrangement, there is precluded the danger of the supporting frame being accidentally twisted,

which might otherwise happen because of the connections between the members I and the legs 6 such connections being capable of pivotal movement.

Of course the convertible container-top 3 may be made of any suitable material, as for instance its two halves may be stamped out of sheet metal for the sake of convenience in manufacture as well as for the purpose of lengthening its life of usefulness.

The supporting frame of the table may also be made of metal, as for instance tubing, while the seat members may be made of wood. "These parts are all so designed and proportioned that the supporting frame and seat members, when in knocked down condition, may all be packed within the container space that is afforded by the table top 3 after it has been removed. After these parts have been placed within the container 3, it may be held closed by an suitable means, as for instance a band or cord or the like. As a result of this convertible table top and container, the entire table may be packed into less space than would otherwise be possible.

While I have indicated above and also in the drawing that the seat members may be made of wood, yet it is to be understood that they may also be made of metal. Also, it is contemplated that the location as well as the form of the projections ll may vary from that disclosed in the present description and drawing.

What I claim is:

1. An article of furniture comprising a supporting frame having spaced co-extensive substantially duplicate rod-like members in parallel planes and each with a pair of spaced oppositely disposed portions extending downwardly at substantially right angle from the ends thereof, a top member in a form of an inverted open container having duplicate rectangular halves flanged on all sides and hinged together along adjacent flanges so as to be capable of being closed together into container form, said flanges which are opposite to said hinged flanges having direct engagement with said downwardly extending portions, and said parallel members being formed with depressions in the middle thereof of sufficient dimensions to accommodate the hinged flanges of said container when occupying inverted open position as a top member.

2. The same structure as recited in claim 1 hereof and with the additional feature of having said flanges which are opposite to said hinged flanges provided with inwardly extending projections in bracing engagement with said downwardly extending portions, which are diagonally opposite each other.

JOHN C. LA RUE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,072,060 Thompson Sept. 2, 1913 1,181,320 Korn May 2, 1916 1,455,066 Bereman May 15, 1923 1,512,326 Wynn Oct. 24, 19 4 1,589,540 Meek June 22, 1926 1,643,947 Hill Oct. 4, 1927 1,696,193 Deland Dec. 25, 1928 1,716,612. Wing June 11, 1929 1,952,737 Vaghi Mar. 27, 1934 2,362,567 LaRue Nov. 14, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 449,429 Great Britain June 26, 1936 

